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Common Injuries in Runners

According to Stats Canada, jogging is one of the most popular forms of physical activity for Canadians, with anywhere from 19% to 47% of Canadians reporting to have jogged during their leisure time. Jogging has numerous positive effects, from boosting endorphins, to losing weight, to fighting off disease. Injury, unfortunately, is an inevitable part of the sport. In any given year, it is estimated that 65% of runners will be injured. For every 100 hours of running time, the average runner will sustain one running-related injury.

As physiotherapy experts, we see all sorts of injuries, including those caused as a result of running. Here are some of the most common:

Shin Splints
If you’ve ever experienced shin splints, you know how painful and debilitating this type of injury can be. Shin splints can be caused by a number of factors, including ill-fitting shoes, repetitive micro trauma, flat feet, and weak leg muscles. Symptoms include mild to severe pain on the front or inside of the lower leg along the shin bone.

Achilles Tendinitis
This injury presents itself as generalized stiffness and pain right above the heel. The heel may feel thick, warm, and stiff, especially in the mornings. Achilles tendinitis can be caused by excessive stress on the tendon, and poor flexibility, and can be worsened with continued use.

Runner’s Knee
Also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, runner’s knee is the irritation of the cartilage under the kneecap and is caused by overuse of the knee or running on crowned roads. Symptoms include irritation on the sides of the knee, tenderness and redness over the knee, and pain when running. About 13% of runners suffer from this injury every year.

Muscle Strains
Muscle strains or pulls consist of small tears in the muscle caused by overstretching or overexerting the muscle. This type of injury is especially common in athletes running on hills, uneven ground, or doing speed training. Symptoms of this injury include pain, swelling, and tenderness in the calf.

Plantar Fasciitis
This involves the injury of the plantar fascia—the thick tissue at the bottom of the foot extending from the heel to the toes. A person suffering from plantar fasciitis might experience weakness, swelling, and pain in the arch of the foot. People with tight calf muscles and high arches are especially prone to this injury.

Running is a wonderful sport, but it is one that puts a significant amount of strain on athletes’ muscles, bones, and tendons. If you have a running injury, you may want to consider physiotherapy as a viable recovery option.

At Pro Care Physiotherapy, our professional team of physiotherapists can help people with running injuries and other movement and musculoskeletal problems. Our physiotherapy sessions are personalized, with the goal of getting you back to your pre-injury lifestyle as soon as possible.

For more information, get in touch with us today.


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